A FOOTS XATCSALIST. 



the dry brandies off, a task in which I helped him. Sunset 

 surprised us ere we had finished our labor. The waters of 

 the lake assumed a dark hoe, and the mountain peaks to- 

 wards the setting sun furrowed the sky with their strange- 

 ly irregular outlines, and the breeze resounding through the 

 pine-trees produced a solemn and grave chant, a peculiarity 

 which has doubtless given to this species of tree the name 

 of fimu rdiffionu. As the rays of the sum died away 

 and the dark shadows covered the sky, the silence became 



~ni .. f .. .1 g J J ,1, i ! 1, - :f ^n -m 



soil more proiouna. ouooeniy tne last rays ox toe lumi- 

 nary vanished; the gathering darkness imbued us with an 

 which those only can understand who, like us, had 

 face to face with some of the grandest 

 from the Creator's hands, 



Lucien, too, was subject to the influence of the twofold 

 majesty of darkness and solitude; he was speechless, and 

 looked by turns both at the earth and the sky. The stare 

 appeared glittering in the blue heaven, and were reflected 

 on the motionless surface of the neighboring water. Sud- 

 denly a luminous ray seemed to dance over the lake, and 

 then to divide into a shower of sparks. It was the. reflec- 

 tion of our fire, to which FEncuerado had just set a fight. 



The piercing cold was excessively trying: our tarapct 

 did not seem sufficient to protect us from its influence. 

 Fortunately we had obtained fuel enough to keep up the 

 bivouac fire all night. Our meal, although without meat, 

 was a cheerful one. Each in turn retired to his pine-leaf 

 couch ; and soon I alone remained up, not feeling an incli- 

 nation for slumber. 



What a contrast it was! The night before, at this time, 

 we were deafened by the uproarious wind, and the forests 

 echoed with hs fearful effects; while we, perfectly helpless, 

 sheltered behind a trembling stone, could scarcely breathe 

 the burning air. Twenty-four hours had hardly elapsed, 



